Modern approaches to solving crime needed
THIS WEEKEND saw this nation witness two more murders of young men in the prime of their lives at the hands of cowardly gunmen.
This follows the double assassinations, just a few weeks into the new year of two other young men, one of whom was buried on the weekend. These latest incidents are detailed elsewhere in this publication.
But isn’t it sad that we seem to have become almost numb to these horrific killings that so often elicit only a r.i.p mention on social media, and elsewhere only in terms of year to date statistics? But these are the children of mothers and fathers, members of families who must have cared for them, though many have chosen to live a life that violates the laws and norms of the society in which they live.
Sadly too, we have witnessed the vexing issue of homicides, and specifically the numbers of murders, used by politicians to score points against each other. They have, to a lesser extent, periodically sought to discuss and debate about the causes of crime. While we do not doubt the sincerity of these debates, we must recognize that this is not a simple problem.
We have undoubtedly made significant strides in many areas including housing and other infrastructure. Education too has seen remarkable strides and has positively impacted the lives of many. But reaching into the minds and outlook of persons who turn to crime is all long term.
We must face the reality that the solutions to gun crimes will never be simple, just as the causes are multifaceted. Various commentators-including from faith-based and civil society- point to deep rooted issues. Among them the role of fathers, and the lack of stable home environments as likely being among the range of factors that drive persons to turn to a life of crime.
We have long moved on from the days when young men argued and often fought with their bare hands to settle scores; replaced these days by a firearm, the bulk of them illegal, where an aggressor strikes and flees.
This brings us to the issue of the availability and source of firearms that we do not manufacture nor openly sell. How do these firearms, some very sophisticated and high powered, enter our shores?
Do they enter via our relatively large sea space which our modest Coast Guard is by no stretch of the imagination able to effectively patrol?
Our homicide problem, and crime in general, demand scientific means of investigation using forensics. It demands that our Criminal Investigation Department is equipped with the appropriate tools and manpower. This includes timely access to laboratories for DNA testing for valuable pieces of evidence to aid investigation.
If this is considered costly then can we not negotiate with our partners with whom we have diplomatic relations for assistance in this regard? If we don’t attempt to access modern methods of crime fighting and investigations, we will continually mourn our young, while hoping that eyewitnesses would come forward; an exercise in futility.
The optics of the Minister of National Security summoning an emergency meeting of the Police top brass on a Sunday following the horror of two gun murders in one weekend are positive. But we all know of the inadequacies in our investigative machinery. And if these men and women do not possess the tools to aid in modern crime investigations that would lead to successful convictions, the brazen killings would continue and the shooters will have the last laugh to the detriment of the citizenry.
We trust that this week’s Budget would reveal that some urgently needed resources are being allocated towards crime prevention and investigation using scientific methods. Anything less will not cop it.
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